As the Philadelphia 76ers continue on with their season after a tough 1-3 California road trip, their younger guys could be on the way up soon.
Second-year man Zhaire Smith and rookie Marial Shayok are two of the better prospects in the team’s system and they have spent the majority of the season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. However, they are all set to join the Sixers once the G League season ends.
“They will both go up,” said Blue Coats coach Connor Johnson. “They will reintegrate with the team and I think that will be good.”
Shayok has averaged 22.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 33 games in Delaware while Smith is averaging 13.2 points and 3.3 rebounds as he continues his rehab.
A lot of eyes are on Smith who was a first-round pick of the Sixers in the 2018 draft, but injuries and an allergic reaction have derailed him a bit. Now, with Delaware, he can get himself together and eventually rejoin the Sixers.
“Here, it’s all about getting all the experience you can about playing,” Johnson added. “He played something like 35 minutes last night, we’ve got a back-to-back here where they’ll play a ton again, and then it’s getting back with the team and understanding where he fits in there and what he’s got to work on and improve. For the postseason or really for next year as well.”
Blue Coats coach Connor Johnson says the plan is for Zhaire Smith and Marial Shayok to join Philly when the season ends #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 8, 2020
The Blue Coats host the Lakeland Magic at 2:00 p.m. EST from the 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington. This is another opportunity for both players to prove themselves. [lawrence-related id=27310,27300,27291]